ween
Wilson's and Orlando's ideas of peace remained open.

On January 24, 1918, in the Committee of the Austrian Delegation, I
spoke publicly on the subject of the Fourteen Points and declared them
to be--in so far as they applied to us and not to our Allies--a
suitable basis for negotiations. Almost simultaneously we took steps
to enlighten ourselves on the problem of how in a practical way the
fourteen theoretical ideas of Wilson could be carried out. The
negotiations were then by no means hopeless.

Meanwhile the Brest negotiations were proceeding. Although that
episode, which represented a victory for German militarism, cannot
have been very encouraging for Wilson, he was wise enough to recognise
that we were in an awkward position and that the charge brought
against Germany that she was making hidden annexations did not apply
to Vienna. On February 12--thus, _after_ the conclusion of the Brest
peace--the President, in his speech to Congress, said:

Count Czernin appears to have a clear understanding of the peace
foundations and does not obscure their sense. He sees that an
independent Poland composed of all the undeniably Polish
inhabitants, the one bordering on the other, is a matter for
European settlement and must be granted; further, that Belgium
must be evacuated and restored, no matter what sacrifices and
concessions it may involve; also that national desires must be
satisfied, even in his own Empire, in the common interests of
Europe and humanity.

Though he is silent on certain matters more closely connected with
the interests of his Allies than with Austria-Hungary, that is
only natural, because he feels compelled under the circumstances
to defer to Germany and Turkey. Recognising and agreeing with the
important principles in question and the necessity of converting
them into action, he naturally feels that Austria-Hungary, more
easily than Germany, can concur with the war aims as expressed by
the United States. He would probably have gone even further had he
not been constrained to consider the Austro-Hungarian Alliance and
the country's dependence on Germany.

In the same speech the President goes on to say:

Count Czernin's answer referring mainly to my speech of January 8
is couched in very friendly terms. He sees in my statements a
sufficiently encouraging approach to the views of his own
Government to justify his belief that they afford a basis fo